02/11/2016
NEWS STORY
Ross Brawn has shot down claims that he is to replace Bernie Ecclestone as F1 supremo - a claim that Pitpass effectively poo-pooed yesterday.
In the wake of a report in Germany's Auto Bild at the weekend, the media went into overdrive claiming that Ross Brawn had been recruited by Liberty Media to replace Bernie Ecclestone.
However, the Briton has now revealed that in fact there is no official commitment and that his role is limited to that of consultancy.
"Liberty have not got far enough down the road to make any commitments yet," he told BBC Sport. "I'm doing a little consulting to help them better understand F1 but that's all."
It's understood that Liberty is eyeing a future senior role for Brawn on the technical side of the sport, but the Briton admits that it "all depends" on what Ecclestone opts to do.
Meanwhile, speaking to Autosport, Ecclestone said he would be delighted if Brawn were to be appointed to a senior role at the FIA.
"I'd be delighted if he went to the FIA, he would be absolutely first class," said Ecclestone. "I haven't spoken to him for quite a long time. I haven't got the slightest idea what he could do. But nothing with us, we don't need an engineer, or anybody like Ross's job."
Describing the reports that Brawn is to “replace” him as "a load of bollocks", Ecclestone said Liberty Media can do "whatever they want to do" once they take control of the sport.
"Liberty Media are shareholders," he said, "Chase Carey has taken up Peter Brabeck's role as chairman, but they are not in control of the company. They have 10% of the company, and at the moment I am still chief executive.
"It's the same company it's always been," he added. "If Liberty gains control then they are in a position to do whatever they want to do, which anybody that owns a company can do."